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Students are spending less on college course materials even though they are still buying the same amount of textbooks and other items. [Source: NACS]

Once upon a time, most college students had very few choices when it came to the textbooks and other course materials they were required to buy each semester: Pricey new books or not-quite-as-pricey used copies, and most of these were gone quickly. But now there are multiple online competitors for buying, renting, and reselling these materials and a new survey shows that students are paying a lot less.

More students are renting course materials, according to the survey, which found that 40% of students had rented at least one item, with rented materials accounting for 32% of all acquired books, up from only 19% in the 2013-14 academic year.

Digital course materials, usually in the form of e-books, are also providing lower-cost options. Though the majority of students still prefer printed course materials, those that go digital save an average of $43, says NACS.

Campus stores remain the most popular option for students, accounting for 2/3 of all purchased materials, and just shy of half all rented course materials. But competition from Amazon, Chegg, and others appear to be giving students lower-cost options than they had only a few years ago.